If your existing kitchen countertops are in good shape but just need an update, consider painting or resurfacing rather than replacing to get the high-end look of natural stone.

It’s a common scenario: This kitchen had perfectly serviceable laminate countertops, but the owner wanted a more luxurious look. Instead of springing for thousands of dollars’ worth of new granite, she opted to try granite-look countertop paint from Giani, which is sold in a kit that covers 35 square feet of surface area for about $70. The paint is designed to cover laminate, solid-surface, ceramic tile, wood or cultured-marble countertops.

The result is a seamless surface that transforms the look of the kitchen. The striations and colors will differ each time you use the product, so it’s best to tackle the whole kitchen at once so that you develop a relatively consistent pattern.

Before

Courtesy of Giani

After

Courtesy of Giani

Step 1: Clean, Prep and Paint

Be sure to get grease off completely with a scouring pad and rinse well with water (specific instructions are available in the kit or on Giani’s website). If your wood or laminate countertops are damaged, you can simply fill in holes and cracks with wood filler and sand with 600-grit sandpaper before continuing. Then you’ll coat with the included black primer, which will show through the layers of colors you daub on top.

Courtesy of Giani